The two candidates for the City of Kentwood’s Ward 2 Commissioner seat currently held by Michael Brown, which will be decided on the Nov. 5 ballot, recently answers questions from a moderator at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Candidate Forum.
The Chamber’s Candidate Forum took place Sept. 11, at the Kentwood Branch of the Kent District Library, with WKTV Community Media cameras recording the event. The event was hosted by Chamber President Bob O’Callaghan and moderated by Kathey Batey.
The two candidates for the Ward 2 seat are Bill Benoit and Ron Draayer. Also on the ballot in November but not at the forum as they are running unopposed for other Kentwood Commission seats are incumbent Commissioner at Large Maurice H. Groce and incumbent Ward 1 Commissioner Robert D. Coughlin.
Draayer, according to the candidate, is a Kentwood resident who was a classroom teacher at Davenport University for 40 years and taught classes in the field of technology and cyber security.
Benoit, according to the candidate, is a Kentwood resident who works for the Charter Township of Cascade as a building inspector and plan reviewer, and is currently on the City of Kentwood Planning Commission.
WKTV Community Media was at the forum and will both broadcast it on WKTV Government Channel 26 as well as making it available on WKTV’s YouTube Channel. The forum will be broadcast today, Friday, Sept. 20, at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 9 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 26, at noon; as well as several but as-yet unscheduled times in October. See the WKTV on-air schedule for dates and times.
WKTV also recorded candidates Benoit, Draayer and Coughlin as part of “We The People” candidate introduction videos series which are produced prior to each election voted on by Wyoming and Kentwood residents. Those videos will be made public the week of Sept. 23.
“You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
Roy T. Bennett
Finny, the finback whale skeleton, greats visitors as the enter the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Supplied)
Free day at GR Public Museum
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM), in partnership in the 15th annual Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day on Saturday, Sept. 21, is offering the opportunity for free general admission to Museum Day ticket holders. Get more info here.
A scene from a previous West Michigan Freedom Cruise and Gold Star Family Honor Ride at the Fifth Third Ball Park. (Supplied)
Honor America with a ride
The 2019 West Michigan Freedom Cruise and Gold Star Family Honor Ride — an event intended to to “Remember Gold Star Families, Support All Veterans and Never Forget!” — will return to Fifth Third Ball Park in Comstock Park Sunday, Sept. 22. Get more info here.
A close-up of part “Community” by British installation artist Rebecca Louise Law. (Supplied by the artist)
New show at Meijer Gardens
When Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park opens its next exhibit, “Rebecca Louise Law: The Womb”, on Sept. 20, the Gardens horticultural staff and community volunteers might be excused if they feel a little ownership of the artwork. Get more info here.
Fun fact:
2.32 hours
On average, in 2018, people watched TV for 3 hours 19 minutes per weekend day and 2 hours 32 minutes per weekday. (An NFL game lasts at least 3 hours, so …)
With thousands of visitors flocking to Northern Michigan annually to catch the peak of autumn color, the Manistee County Visitors Bureau (Visit Manistee County) is making it easier to see fall colors in the region that also boasts two distinct fall color seasons, offering free fall planning tools to help visitors plot their autumn visit, along with a host of seasonal events and attractions.
“The fall season is a key draw to our beautiful part of the state, and we are so fortunate to have two distinct phases that extend our season — our inland region shows earlier signs of fall color, and our Lake Michigan coastline stays green longer with warmth from the lake,” said Kathryn Kenny, executive director of Visit Manistee County. “We want to make it easy for visitors to find everything they need at their fingertips to have a wonderful autumn getaway while enjoying the longer color season here.”
2019 Fall Color Guide – Developed for the first time this year as a stand-alone guide for the fall season, this free, downloadable 36-page fall color guide provides top photo spots; three color tour driving routes (inland, coastal and Lake Michigan coastal tour/M-22 scenic drive) with food, shopping and lodging stops along the way; plus evening activity suggestions. Visitors also can request a free printed guide in the mail by contacting the visitors bureau at 877.626.4783.
Biweekly fall color update videos – Visit Manistee staff provide twice-a-week, short video updates about where the leaf color is around the county to help with travel plans. The latest video appears on the fall landing page, and past videos are archived on Facebook.
Fall “color dial” – Two color dials are updated every few days – one for the coastal region and one for the inland region – visually depicting the leaf color from green for “still early” or “here and there,” to yellow for “feels like fall” and “good color,” to red for “great color” and “peak color.” A short description of the current status is listed below the dial.
Visit Manistee County highlights three primary fall color driving routes in its new 2019 Fall Color Guide, which can also be combined with additional tours from the Manistee County Self-Guided Tour series of the county for fall leaf peeping. Driving tours for the best chance to see fall colors include:
Inland Fall Color Tour– This 175-mile scenic inland loop takes visitors east into Manistee County toward higher elevations and dense hardwoods of Manistee National Forest, plus along winding dirt roads and through tunnels of trees. (Can be combined with the Bridges and Dams Tour and Quilt Trail Tour.)
Coastal Fall Color Tour– This scenic route traversing 130 miles of Manistee County’s shoreline along both Lakeshore Drive and the start of the famous M-22 passes through coastal towns like Onekama and Arcadia while offering expansive glimpses of Lake Michigan at vistas like Arcadia Overlook. Fifteen points of interest are mapped out, along with fun facts and diversions. (Can be combined with the Natural Wonders Tour and U-Pick & Farm Markets Tour.)
Lake Michigan Coastal Tour /M-22 Scenic Drive – Manistee County is the gateway to scenic Michigan Highway M-22, which this 150-mile route follows from Manistee County north along Lake Michigan past 21 points of interest and through 11 communities, all the way to Northport and down to Traverse City. (Suggested in conjunction with the above-mentioned Coastal Fall Color Tour.)
Fall events and attractions
Manistee County also features fall events and attractions that cater to adults and families alike:
Hops and Props on the River, Manistee, Sept. 21. This fall favorite features classic wooden boats and craft beer, cider and wine. Visitors can taste their way through more than 100 beers from 35 Michigan breweries, view classic Century boats (originally manufactured in Manistee), and listen to live music.
Little Manistee River Weir – Fall Egg Harvest, Manistee, tours scheduled in the fall and group tours by appointment. (Call 231.775.9727, ext. 6072 to check tour dates.) This occurs once a year when the DNR Fisheries Division harvests chinook salmon eggs from the weir that is used to block fish on the Little Manistee River. The eggs are sent to state fish hatcheries to be reared and stocked across Michigan and other states. During the fall egg take, visitors can tour the operation and view salmon from a platform.
Onekama Fall Festival, Onekama, Oct. 12. This annual tradition features live entertainment, arts and crafts, scarecrow and pumpkin decorating contests, pet parade, hay rides, food wagon and other family-friendly activities.
Manistee Ghost Ship, October weekends. The historic 1931 S.S. City of Milwaukee car ferry transforms into the Manistee Ghost Ship, where visitors explore five decks of thrills, scares and ghostly beings. Admission fee.
Scenic Airplane Tours, October weekends. Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Michigan’s fall colors on a scenic flight over Manistee County. Orchard Beach Aviation conducts two scenic flights – one over downtown Manistee and the Lake Michigan shoreline, and one of the M-22/Portage Lake area – for $30 per person (two person minimum) departing from Manistee County Blacker Airport.
Sunset Cruises, Manistee, Daily through mid-October. Enjoy a privately chartered cruise on Lake Michigan with someone else captaining the boat. Inn Fun Cruises offers day trip and two-hour evening sunset cruises on its 28-foot Bayliner where guests are treated to light snacks and beverages from local restaurants. Guests can bring alcoholic beverages as well. Guests meet on the dock behind Taco ‘Bout It and cruise around Manistee Lake, Manistee River channel, and out to Lake Michigan (weather permitting) to see the sun set. Groups of up to six are welcome, with pricing for the sunset cruise ranging from $250 for 1 to 2 people, to $450 for 5 to 6 people.
Visit Manistee County encourages visitors this fall to tag their photos and posts on social media with #MyManistee and #FallFilter for a chance to be featured in Visit Manistee County’s fall campaign.
Late last summer, Tricia Johnson experienced subtle stomachaches.
Job stress, she thought. Or maybe tight muscles from starting a new workout routine.
“It was kind of constant, but not like pain,” Johnson said. “More like pressure would be the word for it. I kind of blew it off.”
But then, her stools started to change color. And change consistency.
She visited her primary care doctor, who ordered blood work.
“Everything came back pretty OK,” Johnson said. “My white blood count was a little down, but nothing she was concerned about. She chalked it up to my having irritable bowel syndrome. She gave me some anti-cramping pills. I took those for 10 days, but didn’t see any change.”
She returned for a CT scan on Aug. 30.
“I was barely home and I was getting a phone call from the physician,” Johnson said. “He said ‘I have bad news for you.’ My instinct was I thought it was my gall bladder. So when he said, ‘I have bad news for you,’ I thought, ‘Yeah, it’s my gall bladder, I’m going to need surgery.’”
Soul shock
That would have been welcome news.
Instead of hearing about gallbladder issues, she heard unthinkable words spill from her telephone earpiece: “You have pancreatic cancer.”
Johnson sat down on her bed. Shock flooded her soul.
“He must have set me up with an oncologist,” she said. “I just don’t remember much of that day. My husband (Shane) was working in Detroit. I had to call him. He couldn’t believe it. We stayed on the phone with each other that whole three-hour drive home. He even called the doctor to make sure I wasn’t hearing things wrong.”
She had Stage 4 cancer in her pancreas, liver, lymph nodes and some of her vessels. And the cancer was too advanced for surgery.
“She told me it was the worst kind,” Johnson said.
Johnson underwent aggressive chemotherapy with four different medicines twice a month. Each session would take between five and six hours. She would return home with a pump that would continue to deliver chemo drugs.
“They told me it was going to be like dropping a hand grenade in my body,” she said. “They only gave me 6 to 9 months to live, depending on how I handled treatment.”
Johnson wasn’t about to let cancer rule her future. She started researching and studying, trying to learn everything she could to combat the criminal in her cells, the one trying to steal her health and life as she knew it.
“I learned we needed to do our part to take care of the rest of me and we changed my diet,” Johnson said. “We were typical Western Americans that ate processed foods, sugars and red meat.
“After reading a lot of different things, we changed to whole foods,” she said. “We still do some chicken and fish and learned about the top 10 cancer-fighting foods. I really do attribute that to helping me get through chemotherapy and keeping me healthy. If people don’t know I have cancer, they wouldn’t know. I don’t look like a cancer patient at all.”
Johnson concluded chemotherapy at the end of January. Scans showed the tumor had shrunk.
Reason for hope
Then, came the most encouraging news of all.
Spectrum Health surgical oncologist G. Paul Wright, MD, was starting a new clinical trial for hepatic artery infusional chemotherapy to the liver. The trial is the first of its kind in the United States and only a few places around the country have an HAI pump program.
Photo credit: Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
He inserted the pump in late February. During this surgery, he and his partner, fellow surgical oncologist Mathew Chung, MD, performed nanoknife ablation of the tumor in the pancreas. This uses high voltage electrical pulses to shock the tumor while preserving the surrounding structures.
“It’s pumping chemo directly to my liver,” Johnson said. “So far so good with the pump. I haven’t had any side effects. Before with a port, by the time the chemo got to my liver, it was only 25 percent effective. Now, it’s 400 times the amount I would be getting through regular chemo.”
Dr. Wright said the hope is to increase longevity for patients who respond to what he called a “very aggressive” treatment.
“One of my primary career interests is the delivery of regional chemotherapy to isolated areas of the body,” Dr. Wright said. “This targets affected areas while minimizing toxicity that the rest of the body experiences.”
The pump in her abdomen, about the size of a hockey puck, slowly delivers high-dose chemotherapy to the liver over the course of two weeks.
“We then empty the chemotherapy out and take a two-week break before the next pump chemotherapy treatment,” Dr. Wright said. “These treatments are combined with regular chemotherapy through the standard port.”
So far, the results are astounding.
“As part of the trial we track tumor response using a blood test that is specific to pancreatic cancer,” Dr. Wright said. “So far, early into her treatment, those numbers have already improved by 90% from when she was first diagnosed.”
Photo credit: Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
Johnson and her husband recently visited Lemmen-Holton to have the chemotherapy removed and heparin placed in the pump, as a two-week placeholder before the next treatment.
Clinical research nurse Marianne Morrissey told Johnson she’s looking great.
“We’re very hopeful,” Morrissey said. “And so far, you’ve been a model first patient, so we like it. The tumor shrank. Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it because it’s working.”
Johnson announced that she’s ready to go back to work in her role as a restaurant manager at Brann’s in Grandville.
“Your asking is a good sign that you’re ready,” Morrissey told her.
Shane, a martial arts instructor, said his wife works out three days a week.
“I help people with health and fitness and training,” Shane said. “I’ve taken and applied all of that to Tricia, as if she’s one of my fighters. Every day we work at this. Realistically, she didn’t have six months. It was that bad. That white flag is pretty easy to throw in the air. That’s not an option now. Everything is very positive.”
Including Johnson’s attitude.
Although she felt scared at first to trial the “direct-to-the-liver” chemotherapy pump, she remained hopeful.
“It made me feel so comfortable because Dr. Wright was so passionate about it,” Johnson said. “I look at it like, ‘What do I have to lose?’ I’ll do anything I can to be around longer.”
The plan is for Johnson to undergo the clinical trial pump treatments for six months, with a CT scan after three months.
Photo credit: Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
“I think that’s why I’m still here,” she said. “There’s a reason I was chosen to do this.
“Number one, it’s to help with medical research. Number two, I want to give back,” she said. “I can’t wait until I can volunteer at the hospital. Eventually, this disease is going to get me, but if I can help others have better quality of life, that makes me feel wonderful. There are so many people who have touched me, prayed for me, and done amazing things including my family members.”
A Grand Valley alumna was part of a research team that helped unlock at least some of the long-held mystery about the droppings of the wombat: Why are they shaped like cubes?
It turns out the Australian marsupial actually forms the unusual shape in its digestive system, a discovery that led to the research team, including alumna Alynn Martin, ’14, being recognized with an Ig Nobel Prize.
The annual awards are presented each September at Harvard University to honor “achievements that make people laugh and then think,” according to the organizers’ website.
Other winners this year studied how much saliva a 5-year-old produces and whether pizza consumption protects against illness (apparently only if it’s made in Italy). The stated goal of the awards is to honor the unusual and imaginative in scientific discovery, and Martin embraced that spirit.
“It’s not going to change anybody’s life but it’s a great little piece of information that we didn’t know before,” said Martin, who earned a master’s degree in biology at Grand Valley.
Martin’s part in the wombat waste discovery came during her time working on a doctorate in ecology at the University of Tasmania in Australia. She was working with researcher Scott Carver on wombats and disease when they examined a wombat cadaver. That’s when they discovered the cubic waste in the intestine.
The team sent cadavers to colleagues at the Georgia Institute of Technology for further analysis, such as the dimensions and elasticity of the intestine. All of the researchers were part of the award.
Aside from this interesting discovery about wombats, Martin has developed an affinity for the creatures that survive on grasses and roots (a dry diet that she said may also play a role in their waste formation).
First of all, they’re inarguably cute. Martin described them as burrowing marsupials with pouches specially configured to protect their young from the kicked-up dirt from digging. She also noted that wombats seem to play an unwarranted second fiddle to their fellow Australian marsupial and close relation, the koala.
She was fascinated by these animals whom she described as charismatic and surprisingly regimented. “Working in the field, you could see they were creatures of habit. It’s incredible that for wild animals that can go anywhere and do anything they pretty much stick to a routine,” she said.
A Grand Valley alumna was part of a research team that helped unlock at least some of the long-held mystery about the droppings of the wombat: Why are they shaped like cubes? (Supplied)
Since receiving her doctorate, Martin has gone on to work in Montana with the U.S. Geological Survey to assess the impacts of disease on wild big horn sheep.
Studying disease in wild animals is Martin’s life passion and part of what brought her to Grand Valley, where she studied under Amy Russell, associate professor of biology. Martin, who researched tricolored bats while at Grand Valley, credits Russell with providing the foundation for understanding population genetics as well as research training that is useful every day.
Russell said Martin, her first graduate student, is smart and passionate.
“I remember her being tremendously curious and just always wanting to be out in nature and to learn new things,” Russell said.
Wombats are burrowing marsupials with pouches specially configured to protect their young from the kicked-up dirt from digging. (Supplied)
Spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates (left), Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos (center) and Jessica Meir of NASA (right) pose for pictures as part of a pre-flight news conference. (NASA)
On Wednesday, Sept. 25th WKTV Government 26 will be featuring live coverage of the launch of the International Space Station Expedition 61-62/Soyuz MS-15 from the Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Coverage starts at 9 a.m. with the launch scheduled for 10:57 a.m.
Live coverage continues at 3 p.m. for the docking of the Soyuz MS-15 to the ISS. The docking is scheduled to take place at 3:45 p.m.
Stay tune for the hatch opening at approximately 5:40 p.m. followed by the welcoming ceremony for the Expedition 61-62 crew, NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and astronaut Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates.
For more information on NASA TV or the International Space Station, log on to www.nasa.gov.
NASA TV can be seen on the WKTV 26 Government Channel on Comcast and AT&T U-verse 99 Government Channel 99.
The end zone and howling wolf at the 50-yard line pop with purple in the renovated Wyoming Wolves football stadium.
Construction is nearly complete on about $3 million in work to the outdoor athletic complex at Wyoming High School, 1350 Prairie Parkway SW. Improvements include artificial turf, a new track, a new softball field and dugouts, baseball field updates, a new stadium entry plaza, an updated concession stand, sidewalks and batting cages.
Fans will arrive Oct. 11 for the Homecoming game against Wayland, the first matchup in the new digs. (Until the field is finished, home games will be held at Wyoming Junior High, 2125 Wrenwood St. SW.)
The complex will serve all students in sports and beyond, said Athletic Director Ted Hollern, who has worked in the district for 23 years.
“I see it being the anchor of the entire community, when our kids have the opportunity to go out there and show everybody their talents and their skills and what they are all about on a first-class prestigious football field,” Hollern said. “It is the point of pride for everyone. We now have a facility that matches the prestige and expertise of our athletes.”
Over the decades
Construction on a 30-classroom addition is under way
The Wyoming Wolves’ new outdoor athletic complex is near completion
The new end zone
Over the decades
Construction on a 30-classroom addition is under way
Construction on a 30-classroom addition is under way. (School News Network)
Much More to Come
Renovations are just part of $40 million in planned work at the high school. A 30-classroom addition is under construction and should be ready to move into next August, said Principal Josh Baumbach. Renovations school-wide will include new collaborative spaces outfitted to meet technology needs. Hallways will be widened and windows and high ceilings will allow for more natural light. Eventually, ninth graders, who are currently housed at Wyoming Junior High, will be moved to the high school.
“Essentially we are going to have a new high school when this is said and done. Our students deserve the best and our community has stepped up,” Baumbach said.
The work is all part of $79.5 million school improvement bond, to fund facility improvements districtwide, which passed in 2017. It is being split into two phases: $23.5 million for a first phase of improvements and the remaining $56 million in 2022.
For cheerleaders Andraeya Wells, Taylor Boukma and Brionni Strodtbeck, the excitement goes beyond athletics.
“I can’t wait for the freshmen to come up here and have their own wing,” said Andraeya.
Taylor said she’s happy for future Wolves. “They will be brought up with stuff we never had — newer buildings, nicer facilities and everything. They are going to have more opportunities.”
Added Brionni, “It’s fresh and clean. Everything will be new.”
Veterans and the public are invited to a ceremony for National Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Recognition Day — also known as National POW/MIA Recognition Day — on Friday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m., in the temporary chapel at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, 3000 Monroe Ave., N.W., Grand Rapids.
This annual event is organized by Betty Pike, wife of Vietnam Veteran Jim Pike, who passed away at the veterans home earlier this year. Special recognition will also be given to four returned former MIA from Michigan. The Rev. Bill Campbell will officiate the event.
“We must remember that every prisoner of war or person missing in action has a name, a family, a story,” Debbie Piepsney, President of the POW Committee of Michigan, said in supplied material.
According to supplied material, similar events will be held across the country. In the United States, National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed on the third Friday in September. It was created to honor those who were prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action or unaccounted for. Most often, this particular event is associated with Vietnam Era veterans who became POW or MIA.
It is recorded that an Act of Congress established the passage of a National POW/MIA Recognition Day as part of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act. This event differs from the National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, which was created by Congress in 1988. National Former POW Recognition Day commemorates the April 9, 1942 surrender of an estimated 10,000 United States military personnel and 65,000 Filipino soldiers on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines to the invading Imperial Japanese Army.
For more information on the event, call the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans at 616-364-5300.
About two dozen genetic variations help determine if a person is prone to carrying weight around the belly, according to new research. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
A large, new study has uncovered 24 genetic variations that help separate the apple-shaped people from the pear-shaped ones.
Researchers said the findings help explain why some people are prone to carrying any excess weight around the belly. But more importantly, they could eventually shed light on the biology of diseases linked to obesity—particularly abdominal obesity.
While obesity is linked to a range of health conditions, excess fat around the middle seems to be a particular risk factor for certain diseases—like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
“But we haven’t really known why,” said lead researcher Ruth Loos, a professor at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine, in New York City.
Her team dug into the genetics underlying body fat distribution. If researchers can learn about the important gene variants, Loos explained, they can better understand why some people develop diabetes or heart disease when they gain weight, while others do not.
The findings, published online recently in Nature Genetics, come from a huge international research effort, looking at over 476,000 people at 70 research centers around the world.
Loos and her colleagues focused on hunting down so-called coding variations—differences within genes that have the potential to alter the way that genes and their proteins function.
In the end, the scientists discovered two dozen coding variations that were associated with body fat distribution. Some of those variations have already been linked to processes such as blood sugar control and fat metabolism.
In general, Loos said, genes linked to obesity can be separated into two broad groups. One group acts on the brain, influencing how much you eat by regulating hunger and satiety.
“The gene variations we identified in this study don’t act in the brain,” Loos said. “They work at the cellular level, determining where fat will be stored in the body.”
It all raises the possibility of developing medications that can “tweak” those genetic pathways so that body fat is redistributed in a healthier way, according to Loos.
But that’s a long way off, she stressed.
The next step, Loos said, is to learn more about how these gene variations function in the body.
No one, however, is saying that body weight and shape are genetically set in stone.
Dr. Carl Lavie is medical director of cardiac rehabilitation and preventive cardiology at the Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, in New Orleans.
“Genes are involved in the development of obesity and where the fat is distributed,” Lavie said. “However, the evidence is much stronger for environmental causes.”
Those causes are no surprise: Lavie pointed to sedentary lifestyles and sugary, high-calorie diets.
“Regardless of a person’s genetic profile,” he said, “physical activity and reducing calorie intake can prevent obesity and abdominal obesity—and prevent it from progressing.”
Plus, Lavie noted, exercise boosts a person’s cardiovascular fitness level—which is a critical factor in the risk of developing or dying from heart disease.
Loos agreed that genes are not destiny.
“Obesity is partly genetic,” she said. “We should not forget that diet and exercise are very important.”
However, she added, people with a genetic predisposition toward storing belly fat will have a harder time keeping a trim, heart-healthy waistline.
This past July, many communities, such as the City of Wyoming, observed National Parks and Recreation Month, an opportunity to showcase the many offerings parks and park programs provide.
WKTV was able to catch up with Wyoming’s Director of Community Services Rebecca Rynbrandt, who oversees the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department. Rynbrandt discussed some of the newest features at a couple of the city’s parks, such as the the new pickleball courts at Pinery Park and the playground at Marquette Park.
Rynbrandt also talked about how the department continues to change and grow to meet its residents’ needs and interests.
“We are seeing an increase of request from our citizens, our residents, to have more special events, like the Trick or Treat Trail, formerly known as the Pumpkin Path Trail; like the Miranda Park parties,” Rynbrandt said. “So you are going to see us increasing our investment in those large scale events that will really engage the entire community.”
The Trick or Treat Trail is Oct. 12 from 4-6 p.m. at Lamar park. The event is free, but children must be under the supervision of an attending adult.
Other popular Park and Recreation events coming up are:
The Veterans Day Breakfast is Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. at the Wyoming Senior Center. Cost is $10 per attendee and free for veterans.
The Great Candy Candy Cane Hunt and Lunch With Santa is set for Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Wyoming Senior Center. Cost is $5/residents, $7, non-residents. Best for children ages 3-10 but open to all ages.
For more City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation activities, visit wyomingmi.gov. Go to the “About Wyoming” tab for a scroll down menu that includes Parks and Recreation or visit the Facebook page, Wyoming Parks and Recreation.
While the Lee High School teams are still wearing old uniforms this season, they are already Legends. (Note: This football team t-shirt, worn here by head coach Tom Degennaro, is not the new official logo for Godfrey-Lee school district or its sporting teams). (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
Godfrey-Lee Public Schools announced this week two major donations for the rebranding of the district and high school’s mascot to become the Legends — including $98,000 from the Native American Heritage Foundation to “rebrand the current mascot from ‘Rebels’ to a new mascot and nickname that is culturally responsive.”
“Godfrey-Lee Public Schools is proud to share the announcement of $120,000 in donations to support the district with the change of our mascot to the Godfrey-Lee Legends,” Kevin Polston, Superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, said Sept. 17 in supplied material. “The support of our community through the transition has been critical to the success of the project.
“Financial contributions will ensure that operating expenses will be spent in the classroom to support our students. The donations will offset costs for a new logo design, athletic and performing arts uniforms, signage, murals, the electronic footprint of the district, and more.”
The grant from the Native American Heritage Foundation (NAHF) adds to a grant made by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, as well as other smaller donations.
Grand Rapids Community Foundation was established in 1922 and is Kent County’s philanthropic leader, according to a statement by the Godfrey-Lee district. “The Community Foundation creates partnerships to overcome inequities in West Michigan, supporting racial, social and economic justice for all.”
“We are committed to providing opportunity, prosperity and belonging for everyone who calls West Michigan home,” said Diana Sieger, president of the Community Foundation, said in supplied material. “A new Godfrey-Lee mascot will unify the school community and help students shift their focus to using their talents and creativity to fuel our shared future.”
The official receipt of the grant from the Native American Heritage Fund will take place at a check ceremony on Monday, Sept. 30, at the FireKeepers Casino-Hotel in Battle Creek.
The Native American Heritage Fund, established in 2016 as part of the Second Amendment to the Tribal-State Gaming Compact between the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) and the State of Michigan, allows for a portion of NHBP’s annual state revenue sharing payment to be distributed by the NAHF.
According to the NAHF, the fund “serves to promote positive relationships between public and private K-12 schools, colleges, universities, local units of government and Michigan’s federally recognized Native American Tribes. The NAHF provides resources to help improve curricula and educational resources related to Michigan Indian history, as well as to replace or revise mascots and imagery that may be deemed as offensive to or inaccurately conveying the culture and values of Native Americans.”
The district is still soliciting donations and individuals or organizations that want to contribute toward the district reaching its’ goal of $200,000, Polston said in supplied material.
Those interested can make a tax deductible contribution online via the District’s PayPal account (the link is found at the bottom of the district’s homepage (godfrey-lee.org) or by sending a check to the district’s administration building, 1324 Burton St. SW, Wyoming, MI, 49509.
The 2019 West Michigan Freedom Cruise and Gold Star Family Honor Ride — an event intended to to “Remember Gold Star Families, Support All Veterans and Never Forget!” — will return to Fifth Third Ball Park in Comstock Park Sunday, Sept. 22.
This year, the annual event will honor fallen soldier U.S. Army Sgt. Chad J. Vollmer, of Grand Rapids, who while serving with the Army 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry, was killed in action in Iraq on Dec. 23, 2006.
Each year, the event, this year co-sponsored by West Michigan Veterans Coalition, honors a family with a ceremony unveiling a specially commissioned portrait of “their fallen hero” and then escorts the Gold Star Family (the family of a military man or woman killed in defense of the United States) and the portrait on an honor cruise.
The free-to-the-public Freedom Cruise and Gold Star Family Honor Ride event will begin at the ball park, 4500 West River Drive NE, with gates opening at 11 a.m., the Fallen Soldier Ceremony beginning at 2 p.m., and the Freedom Cruise beginning at 3 (to 3:15) p.m. and ending back at the ball park after a 25-mile motorcycle and classic car ride to Sparta.
The Stars & Stripes Cars & Bikes Freedom Cruise Honor Ride online pre-registration closes Friday, Sept. 20, at 8 a.m., with on-site Honor Ride registration at Fifth Third Ball Park on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
According to event organizers, including principal organizer Tom Antor and Capt. Paul J. Ryan, US Navy Reserve (Retired) and board member of the West Michigan Veterans Coalition, there will be many activities in addition to the ceremony and the ride.
There is a classic car and motorcycle show with 1,000 plus vehicles anticipated. An additional feature this year will be a “Veterans and Family Resource Fair” sponsored by the West Michigan Veterans’ Coalition. The resource fair providers will include organizations that assist veterans and their families in areas including housing, barriers to employment, legal issues, issues affecting female veterans, mental health, spiritual well-being/social support and transportation.
The West Michigan Veterans Coalition, according to supplied information, is a collaboration among local military-friendly organizations that provide support, information, and resources to veterans and their families, employers, and other organizations throughout West Michigan. It’s mission “is to improve the lives of veterans, their families, and anyone who served in the Armed Forces by connecting them to all available services and resources throughout West Michigan.
For more information and registration information visit the Freedom Cruise website at freedomcruisegr.com.
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
On Jan. 31, 2019, Dr. Jen received an email from Julie S. who befriended a cat that folks up the block from her dumped—and just as one of our nasty winter storms was blowing in. She was half-starved, shuddering and shivering and sporting a healing bite wound. Julie was kind enough to bring the kitty in out of the cold, but she wasn’t in a position to keep her, so she reached out to us. We were completely full and starting an intake waiting list, so Julie offered to house the kitty and get her the appropriate medical care in the meantime.
It took 2-1/2 months until we were able to open our doors, but by the time this 2-1/2 year old arrived (born in the fall of 2016), her caretaker was able to offer excellent insight on her personality, likes and dislikes:
“I have temporarily nicknamed her ‘Lady LongSpine’ because she stretches out soooo long when I hold her; I’m sure she will accept a name change easily. She likes being inside of a house, not outside. She prefers to explore space slowly and carefully, traveling around the edges of a room, pausing to check out the area; she tends to hide out under furniture until she feels safe enough to explore more openly. She likes to be where people are and once she has made their acquaintance, she enjoys the attention—in particular, she is fond of being stroked and cuddled like a baby. She’s a vocal girl, purring and talking to you quite a bit, letting you know if she is thirsty or hungry (again, like a baby). If she is in the mood for your attention or thinks it is time you tidied up her litter box, you will know it. She really likes to play with ‘da bird’ toy that is a bunch of feathers attached to a stick—I could swing that around for hours; she may be partial to stalking toys and chasing them around given her enthusiasm for this type of activity.
“Go easy on the nip, as she can get quite wild! She will be OK with a gentle dog that is slowly and properly introduced, and also has places to go to that a pup can’t reach. She’d also be alright with kids if they too are gentle, understand that she is timid at first and has had some hard times, and let her approach them until she gets to know them better. She may get along with other cats, but they would need a ‘getting to know you’ period of gradual adjustment. She will try to be the top cat in a home, so placement in a house of her own would suit her best; when she was on the streets she literally had to fight with other cats for food, and I believe she has a long memory of pain endured and a fear of dealing with felines she saw only as foes. Overall, she is very sweet and extremely cute—I wish I could keep her myself.”
Armed with this very detailed, helpful information, we set out to make Davina’s transition as smooth as possible, but first she needed Dr. Jen’s pre-program work-up to insure she was healthy; it was at that time Dr. Jen discovered that the bite wound Davina had suffered transmitted the feline leukemia virus. Sadly, this meant that she would not be going to Crash’s as planned, but thankfully she was going to become a resident of Big Sid’s, our sanctuary for virally infected kitties.
Easy on the ‘nip there, kitty. Wait! This is the resident imposter, Donut. See what happens when you succumb to the ‘nip?
After a few days of loving her up at the clinic, we sent her down to settle in. At the writing of her bio a month after her arrival, here are the insights the cat care team has about our lovely little gray-and-white girl:
“Davina—she was very shy when she first arrived but is slowly starting to be a little more social. She loves being up high on a tall cabinet until she sees people enter the room, then she’s right there asking for her well-deserved attention. She LOVES her wet food, treats, and back scratches. She’s still a bit wiggly when picked up, but will sit in your lap once you sit down. She does have a feisty side to her towards the other cats, though she’s not mean or aggressive—just a girl who needs her space. She has gotten a little more brave and has been spending a lot more of her time on the windowsill watching the birds and squirrels. She would do best with only one other cat, or as the only cat. Dogs are probably too much for her.”
We couldn’t agree more with their assessment of this darling little lady, and since the virus is transmissible AND she really would like to be the queen of her very own castle, it will be our goal to secure for her the type of home life she has long been dreaming—and deserving— of.
More about Davina:
Domestic Short Hair
Gray & White
Adult
Female
Medium
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Spayed
Prefers to be an only cat
Want to adopt Davina Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Michigan-born Carla Canales is a child of immigrant parents who uses her multi-cultural and multi-lingual upbringing in her day job as a world-traveling soprano. When she lands long enough in her current hometown of New York, she’s busy singing the praises of famous women, from Malala to Michelle Obama. Join us for this fascinating interview!
Ready, set, glow! Area runners and walkers are invited to come together and “illuminate the night with glow wear and lights” during the City of Kentwood’s first-ever Glow in the Park 5K on Saturday, Oct. 12.
The lighthearted run will begin just before dusk with check-in, on-site registration and packet pick-up slated to take place between 6 and 7 p.m. at Pinewood Park, located at 1999 Wolfboro Drive SE.
Participants and supporters are encouraged to wear brightly colored and glow-in-the dark clothes and accessories for the race, which runs through Pinewood Park trails and nearby neighborhood roads.
Volunteers in glow wear will help light the way, while neighborhoods along the route are welcomed to decorate their homes with colorful splashes of light for the occasion.
“We’d love to see area neighbors get involved in our first Glow in the Park 5K, which is our only organized after-dark running event to date,” said Spencer McKellar, race organizer. “Whether you’re an avid runner, casual jogger or walker, this 5K is intended to be a fun opportunity to dress up, get out and do something active this fall with family members, neighbors and friends.”
As the participants near the finish line, the path will be lit with glow-in-the-dark sticks and other colorful lights. An awards ceremony and party at Pinewood Park including music, games and refreshments will immediately follow the race. The route is fully paved and accessible.
Individuals interested in racing can register online. Those who register by Oct. 1 will receive a t-shirt and race pack with glow supplies.
Registration costs $30 until Sept. 30, after which the price will increase by $5 increments leading up to $40 for race-day sign-ups. Proceeds will go to support the City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department’s Youth Scholarship Fund, which allows recipients to receive up to 50 percent off of one program per season.
The Parks and Recreation Department is seeking volunteers for the Glow in the Park 5K. Those who are interested may sign up online.
“Parenting is hard, especially trying to be patient with little versions of impatient you.”
Anonymous
Parenting is work, but there are some tools to help.
Parenting ain’t easy
Sometimes, parents can send their children mixed messages by the ineffective commands they give them and lack of consistency with routines and household rules. Go here for more info.
Soft lights and light reading helps.
Sleeping ain’t easy
Exposure to bright light in the hour before bedtime can make it difficult for kids to fall asleep, family health experts warn. Go here for more info.
Kids carry the weight too.
Lugging books ain’t easy
Thousands of children each year suffer from a variety of backpack-related injuries, including back and neck pain, shoulder pain, muscle strains and spasms, nerve damage and headaches. Go here for more info.
(Not-so-) Fun fact:
As much as 7 pounds
Hardcover textbooks weigh between 2 and 7 pounds … a burdensome load of information that students have to haul around school five days a week. Source.
If you’re a runner who wants to make sure you are eating right before, during and after a race, Spectrum Health dietitian Kristi Veltkamp has two words for you: whole foods.
“You don’t need to buy pricey supplements,” she said. “Whole foods are the best way.”
They focused on protein and carbohydrates and how they are readily available in the form of whole foods.
Complex carbohydrates—plentiful in whole grains, fruits and vegetables—are great for athletes, Veltkamp said. But don’t confuse them with the simple carbs like those found in a white bread, sodas and French fries.
And don’t think that all your protein must come from meat, Veltkamp added. Edamame, beans, chickpeas and nuts are great options. Keep in mind that one cup of edamame contains a whopping 18 grams of protein.
Here are a few other options for a nutrient-rich diet:
The nitrates found in celery, leafy greens and beets convert to nitric oxide in the body, which increases blood flow and improves aerobic endurance.
Vitamin D regulates the way your body responds to inflammation. Foods high in Vitamin D are fatty fish, egg yolks and fortified dairy products.
Foods high in omega 3, including salmon, tuna, walnuts and chia seeds, support brain health and reduce inflammation.
Consuming fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamins C, E and A reduce the imbalances in the body caused by exhaustive exercise. These include dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, avocado, broccoli, berries, citrus, tomatoes, carrots and sweet potatoes.
Herbs and spices such as ginger, turmeric, garlic, cinnamon and rosemary contain antioxidants, minerals and vitamins.
Spectrum Health Culinary Medicine chef Elizabeth Suvedi teaches people about the power of whole food dishes. (Photo by Taylor Ballek, Spectrum Health Beat)
“I hope people leave here inspired and wanting to cook,” Suvedi said as the group prepared Moroccan-spiced salmon, chicken salad with apples and raisins, coconut pecan date rolls, purple cabbage and edamame salad and several other dishes. Then they sat down to enjoy them.
As Suvedi prepped the dishes, she queried runners about their training leading up to race day, sharing that she’ll be running the 5K with her husband and sons. It will be her first-ever race.
“After I run I feel so good,” Suvedi said. “I feel like I have accomplished something big.”
When summer fruits and vegetables start to disappear from grocery stores and the action shifts indoors to watching sports and munching on unhealthy snacks, it helps to have a diet plan in place to avoid weight gain.
First, remember that farmers’ markets are still open across the country. You can buy local as long as you make the shift from summer crops to fall ones.
That means tomatoes and cucumbers give way to offerings like root vegetables, including carrots, parsnips and turnips and the wide variety of squashes such as acorn, butternut, Hubbard and kabocha.
These are all great for hearty, cook-ahead soups and stews for dinners and brown bag lunches.
Vegetables in the orange family, including sweet potatoes, are rich in vitamin A.
But don’t overlook nutrient-dense dark, leafy greens like varieties of chard and bok choy.
Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables may be abundant in your area and they taste great roasted with a slight drizzle of olive oil and finished with a splash of balsamic vinegar—hearty enough for a vegetarian meal.
Though local melons, stone fruits and many berries may be gone, explore sweet fall fruits like apples, pears and grapes, as well as the more exotic pomegranates, persimmons and quince, the season’s first cranberries and even fall raspberries.
Have fruit salads ready to snack on instead of greasy chips and crackers, or make a batch of baked apples or poached pears to satisfy a sweet tooth.
A quick look at the ingredients will tell you which foods to avoid. If it sounds like a chemistry experiment, steer clear. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Eating healthy has become one of the most confusing and frustrating tasks of 21st century life.
Many products are no longer made of actual whole food ingredients. Instead they include chemicals, additives and preservatives, or they’re simply “food-like” products. In some cases whole foods have been processed into added ingredients.
How can we ever know what is best to buy at the store?
To get you started, here is a list of ingredients to avoid:
1. Sodium nitrates/nitrites
Sodium nitrates and nitrites are found in processed meats as a preservative. Processed meats include deli meats, sausages, bacon, hotdogs and the like. This preservative has been strongly linked to cancer. Look for “nitrate or preservative-free” meats, or better yet, fresh meats.
2. Hydrogenated oils, aka trans fat
Hydrogenated oils are vegetable oils that have been processed in such a way that the foods they’re in—and the oils themselves—are more shelf-stable. It’s good for food companies but not for your body. Trans fat increases cholesterol and your risk for heart disease and diabetes. It is found mostly in fried foods and bakery products.
Keep trans fat as low as possible and beware—labels can say “0 grams trans fat per serving” and still have up to half a gram of trans fat in the product. Look at the ingredients to be sure!
3. Sugar in all its forms
Sugar comes in many forms—high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, agave nectar, honey, maple syrup, dextrose sucrose, rice syrup, cane juice crystals, maltodextrin, fruit juice concentrate and so on.
And I think we are all aware of the dangers of too much sugar—diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and the like. But it can get tricky with all the various names. Sugar is used as a preservative and, of course, a flavor enhancer. It can even trick your mind into wanting to eat more. It comes in many forms on ingredient labels and it’s almost impossible to eliminate.
Women should keep their intake of added sugar below 24 grams and men should keep it below 36 grams.
4. Artificial flavors and colors
These include any flavorings that say “artificial” or that list colors such as blue, lake, red, yellow 1, 2, 3 and caramel color. The research findings on artificial flavors and colors are mixed, but many people find they are sensitive to these ingredients with various side effects.
The fact is, they are artificial. This means they’re not made from food products that are meant to go in the body. They are also a good sign that the food product is highly processed and does not contain other healthy ingredients.
5. Artificial sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners—sucralose, aspartame, saccharin, etc.—are many
times sweeter than sugar, without the sugar. Research on artificial
sweeteners has also been in high debate, with most unsafe effects coming
from very high doses.
However, there is no way to draw a line on a safe amount and, again, they are artificial and not a natural food. This only raises questions about how the body can handle it.
Research has looked into links to cancer, migraines, weight gain, craving sweets, increased risk of metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Artificial sweeteners may even alter the good bacteria in your gut. And that’s just to name a few of the possible side effects!
6. Oils: Corn, vegetable, soy bean
These oils contain more of the omega-6 fats than most other oils. While these oils are an essential part of our diet, too much can be problematic. Omega-6 fats lead to inflammation, and inflammation leads to a host of other illnesses, including heart disease.
Most Americans get too much oil, as it is such a common ingredient in packaged foods. These oils can also be damaged (oxidized) if not processed and stored correctly, which leads to more damage inside your body.
7. Enriched wheat
This flour has been processed to remove the bran and endosperm of the
wheat grain, leaving you without essential nutrients such as fiber, B
vitamins, vitamin E and minerals. Look for whole wheat as the first
ingredient in any grain product.
8. Carrageenan
Carrageenan is a food additive extracted from seaweed. It is used to help thicken foods and is commonly found in low-fat dairy products and dairy alternatives to make them feel creamier. Research has linked it to gastrointestinal diseases (Crohn’s disease, abdominal pain, etc.) and inflammation, which then leads to heart disease, cancers and diabetes with constant inflammation.
9. Potassium or sodium benzoate
Potassium and sodium benzoate are preservatives added to soft drinks and juices to inhibit the growth of mold, bacteria and yeast. This chemical is not very harmful in this form, but when paired with vitamin C, as well as light and heat, it can form benzene, a strong carcinogen. Therefore, take caution not to buy drinks with both vitamin C and benzoate. Better safe than sorry!
10. Bisphenol A, aka BPA
BPA is not necessarily a food ingredient, but is found in the epoxy resin lining aluminum cans, the lining of some glass jar lids, cash register receipts and some plastic bottles and containers.
The FDA has banned it in baby bottles and infant formula containers, but it’s still allowed in the others.
There is more and more research linking BPA to many reproductive disorders, such as infertility, cancer and abnormalities in child growth. Look for BPA-free cans and containers and avoid microwaving in plastic.
Seasonal allergies are nearly a year-long affair these days—from spring tree pollen to fall weeds. Learn how to battle back. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
They can travel 130 miles per hour, packing enough force to break blood vessels, and shooting as many as 100,000 germs up to 30 feet away.
No, these aren’t sledgehammers of slime; they’re the common, everyday, ordinary sneezes, brought on this time of year by some sinister seasonal allergies.
But while fall brings with it a powder keg of pollen and an all-star lineup of other allergy instigators, there are ways to fight back from a firestorm of seasonal sneezing.
“I had a patient yesterday that said, ‘I sneezed 300 times in a row,’” said allergist Karyn Gell, MD. “They get these sneezing fits, from everything in the air right now. But that’s the problem with allergies, it’s always more than one thing.”
Here are Dr. Gell’s 4 keys to fighting seasonal sneezing:
Allergy avoidance. “Keep your windows in your car and your home closed,” Dr. Gell said. “However, you’re going to want to go outside, so if you’re doing a big job like mowing the grass, wear a mask and perhaps glasses or goggles.”
Medication. “Wonderfully, they’ve all gone over the counter, so you don’t need to see a provider or get a prescription anymore,” she said. “There are several over the counter: Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec and Benadryl. Or generics are just fine, too. That’s the antihistamines. Decongestants, now those can help beautifully to decongest all that mucus and plugging. They are behind the counter for safety as side effects may occur. And then we have eye drops, like Zaditor. You don’t want the ones that say ‘Get the red out,’ it’s addictive, and you don’t want to use that for four to six weeks of allergy season. If you drop decongestants in the eye, or spray it in the nose, it’s addictive. That’s the caution on anything decongestant.”
Irrigation. Dr. Gell says products like SinuNeb and others can help clean you out by flushing your sinuses.
Prescriptions. “When your symptoms require medication you would like to avoid, or begin adding up to 30% of days a year, we can identify exactly what you’re allergic to, how to avoid it, and how to treat it,” Dr. Gell said. “Prescription therapy is associated with an 80% success rate for your allergies.”
One strategy Dr. Gell says won’t work is waiting for allergy season to end. That’s because there really is no end to allergy season.
“Each person’s immune system is so unique, and often with allergies there are multiple,” she said. “Early spring allergens come from mostly trees, but still to come: grasses. …When rain hits, you’ll have mold, which is present whenever there is no blanket of snow on the ground, and peaks summer through fall. Pretty soon, the weeds come! And all season we have dust mite and animal dander.
“That’s the nice thing about finding out what you’re allergic to, the more you learn, the more you can make good choices about what you do.”
Researchers suspect there may be a social stigma with snoring among women, leading some to withhold information about their snoring habits. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
New research shows that snoring is not the sole domain of men.
“We found that although no difference in snoring intensity was found between genders, women tend to underreport the fact that they snore and to underestimate the loudness of their snoring,” said lead investigator Dr. Nimrod Maimon. He is head of internal medicine at Soroka University Medical Center in Be’er Sheva, Israel.
“Women reported snoring less often and described it as milder,” Maimon said in a news release from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
The study included more than 1,900 people, average age 49, who were referred to a sleep disorders center.
Snoring was found in 88% of the women, but only 72% reported that they snore. Both rates were about 93% in men in the study group.
Among people who snored, the average maximum loudness was 50 decibels among women and 51.7 decibels among men. While 49% of the women had severe or very severe snoring, only 40% rated their snoring at this level, the researchers found.
The study authors noted that there is a social stigma associated with snoring among women, so women may not be truthful when asked about snoring. More troubling, this may contribute to the underdiagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in women.
Snoring is a common warning sign for obstructive sleep apnea, in which the upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep. Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and other health issues.
“The fact that women reported snoring less often and described it as milder may be one of the barriers preventing women from reaching sleep clinics for a sleep study,” Maimon said.
When screening women for obstructive sleep apnea, health care providers should consider other factors in addition to self-reported snoring, he suggested.
For example, women with sleep apnea may be more likely than men to report other symptoms, such as daytime fatigue or tiredness.
The study was published online recently in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
If anyone understands the need to eliminate plastic it would be Martha Vermeulen.
As one of the organizers of the Friends of the Buck Creek Annual Clean Up, which took place in August, Vermeulen and the team have pulled out lots of plastic along with styrofoam and tires out of the river.
“We estimate we pull about a half ton of trash out of the creek every year,” Vermeulen said.
Unfortunately, plastic, styrofoam, and tires are not the only items the volunteers have found. In the past there have been a dryer, partial dishwasher, drums of mysterious liquids, and tennis balls.
“Lots of balls seem to make it in the river,” Vermeulen said. “This year’s most unusual item was a volunteer thought there was a body in the water as it was floating face down. It turned out to be a doll.”
First started by Trout Unlimited, the clean up has been taking place about seven years. The group primarily focuses on the Buck Creek in the Grandville and Wyoming area, selecting about seven sites along the river with a mix of brand new and repeat locations.
And while every year it can seem frustrating on the amount of trash removed, the positive is the number of people who come out each year to help with the clean up.
“We had more than 100 people come out this year,” Vermeulen said. “The better benefit is having people come out and see what is in the river. What our throwaway society does to our watershed.
“Hopefully they begin to reuse things more. Maybe they say this is the year I get that water filter and refill a stainless water bottle.”
The Buck Creek, which is one of the few cold water creeks that runs through a municipality, empties into the Grand River, which the West Michigan Environmental Action Council’s 16th Annual Mayor’s Grand River Cleanup is set for Saturday, Sept. 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event starts at the 6th Street Park in Grand Rapids. Refreshments before the event and a light lunch after with a beverage garden (must be 21 or old with ID) will be hosted by Founders Brewery and Cascade Blonde.
“Never miss a party… good for the nerves — like celery. “
F. Scott Fitzgerald
¿But will there be a piñata?
La Fiesta Mexicana will run Friday-Sunday, Sept. 13-15, at the Calder Plaza, 300 Monroe Ave. NW. The three-day event is packed with music with two mariachi bands scheduled to perform on Saturday. Don’t miss it! Info here.
Food & music to ease into the end of summer
A variety of for trucks will be at Kentwood’s End of Summer Food Truck Festival. (WKTV)
The City of Kentwood and GR8 Food Trucks invites foodies and families to explore cuisine from nearly 30 vendors during the fourth annual End of Summer Food Truck Festival on Saturday, Sept. 14. The free-to-attend community event will run from 11am to 8pm in the parking lot of the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard. L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. In addition to a cornucopia of food trucks, the event will also feature live music and a beer tent. More here.
Fountain Street Church’s birthday bash is Sept. 15 — and we’re all invited!
Cool old postcard
Fountain Street Church honors its past during its 150th anniversary year, a multi-event celebration reaching its peak Sunday, Sept. 15, with its Grand Celebration Street Party. The public is invited. Get the scoop here.
Fun fact:
A real party pooper
He’s not trying that hard.
The mantis shrimp attacks its prey by punching them really, really hard and really, really, really fast with fist-like appendages that can boil the water around them and split your finger to the bone. Not someone you’d invite to a party — especially on Friday the 13th.
WKTV and The Kamla Show, a show known for “authentic conversations with real people,” will present a special episode focused on director Stanley Nelson’s new documentary “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool”, with three airings the week of Sept. 16.
The episode of the The Kamla Show will be shown on WKTV Monday, Sept. 16, at 3 p.m.; Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 11:30 a.m.; and Friday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m.
“Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool”, according to supplied material, “makes for an absorbing watch” as Nelson uses rare archival footage, photos and interviews with musicians to paint a complex picture of this famous and complicated musician and composer.
The film is named after the 1957 seminal album “Birth of Cool”, which is considered an important milestone in the history and evolution of modern jazz. The film highlights the high and low points, as well as his complicated relationship with the women in his life.
“Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool” screened at the 2019 SFFILM festival, which is where the producers of The Kamla Show caught up with Erin Davis (son of Miles Davis) and Vince WIlbrun Jr. (nephew of Miles Davis).
“We spoke to them about their memories of Miles Davis, what music meant to him, his love for technology and his fondness for cooking,” the producers of the show state.
“Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool” releases in September in the United States.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
Bilal Muhammad is the new supervisor of 54th Street Academy, the district’s alternative high school. The role is similar to a principal.
Other positions you have held in education:
Student services coordinator at Kelloggsville Middle School
Middle School athletic director at Grand Rapids Public Schools
How about jobs outside education? I worked in customer service for JC Penney Catalog for seven years.
Bilal Muhammad and wife Stacy; daughter Illiana, 14; and son Amir, 8. (School News Network)
Education/degrees: Bachelor of social science and master of education from Ashford University
Spouse/children: wife, Stacy; son, Amir, 8; and daughter Illiana, 14
Hobbies and Interests: I like sports. I coach basketball and I still play basketball. I like to travel.
What kind of kid were you at the age of students at this new school? I was big into athletics. I played basketball and I ran track. Academically, I was stellar, I got the work done.
The biggest lesson you have learned from students is… I feel students want to know you have their best interests at heart. They won’t really learn from you if you don’t build that positive relationship with them.
Finish this sentence: If I could go back to school I would go to grade ? because…I kind of feel like everything happens for a reason so I wouldn’t change anything I went through, because I learn from my experiences. I wouldn’t go back to a grade, because everything I’ve been through made me who I am.
For more stories on local schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
Camping fun doesn’t need to end once the kids are back to school and the leaves begin to change. If anything, fall camping offers participants unique opportunities to appreciate a new perspective on camping.
“Even though we like to think RVing and camping is never out of season, RVing and camping after Labor Day gives families a different impression of the activity,” said Darren Ing, director of Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds, (MARVAC).
In Michigan, the camping season usually goes until the end of October, with many campgrounds hosting special events for Halloween, or other fall-themed activities.
“We love when families make reservations after the typical camping season because it gives them the opportunity to enjoy our campground and stunning sunsets over Lake Huron when it is less crowded,” said Anthony Gallo, owner of Sunset Bay Marina and RV Park in Bay City, Michigan.
Fall camping has more benefits other than increased availability of sites, said Ing. Cooler temperatures mean better sleeping conditions, more active natural wildlife and fewer mosquitos and traffic. Area attractions and trails are also typically less crowded then the summer season.
There are also unique excursions and events that only happen in the fall including leaf-peeping color tours, harvest festivals, farmers markets and more. Check activities at www.michigan.org.
As if another reason to try fall camping is needed, many MARVAC campgrounds offer reduced rates in the waning months of the year. “While there may be more availability after Labor Day, it is still strongly suggested to call and make a reservation, as opposed to just showing up,” said Ing.
To find a MARVAC-member campground, visit www.marvac.org. Multiple campgrounds will also be at the 30th Annual Fall Detroit RV & Camping Show Oct. 2-6 at Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi.
Many will be taking reservations for the 2020 camping season. The Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds (MARVAC) is a statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging growth in the recreation vehicle and private campground industries while contributing to the quality of Michigan tourism. For more information, visit MARVAC’s website, www.marvac.org. MARVAC, 2222 Association Drive, Okemos, Mich. 48864-5978; 517.349.8881.
Sometimes, parents can send their children mixed messages by the ineffective commands they give them and lack of consistency with routines and household rules. Parents will often shout out commands, such as:
Be quiet!
Stop bugging your sister/brother.
Quit shouting!
Stop running.
All of these commands are telling children what not to do. Perhaps parents should tell them what they want them to do instead. “Be quiet,” could be restated as, “Please use an inside voice,” and, “Stop bugging your sister,” could be restated as, “Go play in the other room.”
Often times when parents give ineffective commands children will cease the undesirable behavior for a short period of time and then go back to doing the same thing. Younger children may not understand that their parents want them to stop a behavior for good, unless they are told to. They may think their parents want them to be quiet at that given moment. Keep in mind how literal young children are.
On average, a parent gives one command or correction every minute. This often becomes a problem because parents will give commands and not follow through and be consistent. This can be very confusing for young children because there may be times when the parent really means what they are commanding and other times they may not care if the child complies. Hearing a lot of ineffective commands can be overwhelming for children, so they stop trying to comply.
Learning how to use effective commands and establishing clear limits, household rules and routines will make life a lot easier for everyone. Children will feel more confident about themselves and less apt to misbehave. Clear-cut expectations and routines make children feel safe and secure. Some children will do things that are “wrong” because they have never been told what is right or there has been a lack of consistency and they just don’t know. When parents do what they say they’re going to do, children will trust what their parents say is the truth.
When Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park opens its next exhibit, “Rebecca Louise Law: The Womb”, on Sept. 20, the Gardens horticultural staff and community volunteers might be excused if they feel a little ownership of the artwork.
After all, the site-specific exhibition includes about 10,000 flowers and plants gathered from the Gardens’ massive gardens and strung together in delicate wire strings by local volunteers and staff, and then added to Law’s existing collection of approximately 1 million flowers and plant material.
The resulting newly created sculptural works, as well as painted works, will be on display within, and in spaces preceding, the main gallery in an exhibition which will run through March 1, 2020.
While the British installation artist has gained international acclaim for her works and her use of natural materials, the ability to have such a wide range of local material to select from and work with is a little unusual but very pleasing to the artist.
British installation artist Rebecca Louise Law. (Supplied by the artist)
“It was amazing to have a dedicated team that would daily harvest flora from an abundant garden,” Law said to WKTV. “I felt spoilt by the horticulture team as I’ve given them my preferences and guidance as to what will work best in this installation.”
While some of new exhibit is based on previously produced material, the initial stringing of local materials by a variety of local volunteers does present the artist with a kind of variance, of randomness, that plays into her final artistic decisions as the exhibit comes together.
“I am strict with the method of wiring each flower and we prepare the flowers according to size and tone,” Law said. “Apart from this, I allow the volunteers to work naturally. I have always loved the artwork involving many hands, what makes the installation beautiful to its core is all the handmade twists of copper.”
A close-up of part “Still Life” by British installation artist Rebecca Louise Law. (Supplied by the artist)
The titles of some of Law’s other works seem to reflect or hint at a place and time in nature — “Life in Death” for example. So we asked if “The Womb”, which uses seeds or pods or early roots as well as flowers and other plant material, reflects or hints at an early stage of nature.
“‘The Womb’ studies the start of life and the human cocoon in nature,” Law said to WKTV. “I wanted to study the womb as a vessel and the first human relationship with nature. I have always had the fantasy of being enveloped in nature and through studying the womb, this artwork is the closest I have got to creating an essence of this experience.”
Law’s use of natural materials, mainly floral, will “encourage guests to experience the relationship between humanity and nature. The natural decay of the plant material makes this exhibit time based and encourages frequent visits to observe the process of drying,” according to supplied material.
A close-up of part “Community” by British installation artist Rebecca Louise Law. (Supplied by the artist)
The installation is also described as “an intimate exploration into the relationship between humankind and nature, and explores the sensation of being cocooned in nature, and the fantasy of being naturally enveloped.” The artworks surrounding the installation look in detail at the womb as a natural cocoon.
Although photography will be allowed in specific areas, Law encourages guests to “put aside their cell phones and cameras and fully engage with the exhibition,” she said in supplied material.
An advocate of sustainability, Law frequently reuses dried plant materials that have been displayed in her previous installations.
“I like to capture and treasure small, beautiful natural objects to create an artwork that can be observed without the pressure of time,” Law said in supplied material. “Preserving, treasuring, celebrating and sharing the beauty of the earth with the world is what drives me.”
That advocacy for the natural world combined with artistic vision fits in perfectly with Meijer Garden’s vision.
“We have been aware of Rebecca’s work for some time, and are very excited to be working with her,” Laurene Grunwald, Director of Sculpture, Art Collections, Exhibitions & Installations at Meijer Gardens, said in supplied material. “Her concern for the environment and practice of sustainability is a perfect fit for us along with the literal combination of sculpture and horticulture, which directly mirrors our mission.”
The exhibition will include several free-with-admission special “drop-in” programs, including:
A Director’s Walk will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m., led by Grunwald and Steve LaWarre, Director of Horticulture, as they explore one of the places where this combination of nature and sculpture is emphasized — the wildflower meadow with Mark di Suvero’s sculpture “Scarlatti” at its center.
A lecture, “The Secret Symbolism of Flowers”, will take place on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 2 p.m., with Suzanne Eberle, Professor of Art History, Kendall College of Art and Design. Eberle will discuss how flowers often contain a symbolic meaning that is sometimes specific to the period of art, region or artist from which it was created.
A lecture, “The History of Environmental Art”, on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m., with Billie Wickre, Professor of Art History, Albion College. The Environmental Art movement began in the 1960s and early ’70s as a way to appreciate nature. Over time, it has become a way for artists to address the endangering of ecosystems. Wickre will highlight some important works of art in the Environmental Art movement that have been intended to evoke change in the ways in which we understand and interact with our surroundings.
Exposure to bright light in the hour before bedtime can make it difficult for kids to fall asleep, family health experts warn.
As day changes to night, the body increases production of a sleep-inducing hormone called melatonin. But exposure to artificial light from light bulbs or electronic devices can disrupt melatonin production, according to a news release from the Family Institute at Northwestern University in Chicago.
Recent research into the effects of light on preschool-age children found that youngsters are particularly sensitive to light exposure in the hour prior to bedtime.
“According to some researchers, evening light exposure, with its melatonin-suppressing effect, may increase the likelihood of sleep disturbances in preschool-age children,” the institute explained.
Reading bedtime stories in a brightly lit room can make it difficult for a child to fall asleep, the organization pointed out. And kids who walk into a brightly lit area to get a drink of water or tell their parents they heard a strange noise may also have trouble getting back to sleep.
Parents can help induce sleep by dimming lights in the child’s room and any areas they might walk into if they wake up, the institute suggested.
In addition, mobile electronic devices are a significant source of light exposure. As many as 90 percent of preschool-age youngsters use such devices, often during the hour before bedtime.
Research shows that melatonin remains suppressed for nearly an hour after the lights go off. The investigators suggested making the hour before their child’s bedtime a device-free period, or having the brightness on their handheld electronics set to the lowest level.
The study, by Lameese Akacem and colleagues at the University of Colorado, Boulder, was published online recently in Physiological Reports.
Experience the warm West Michigan hospitality of a Bed & Breakfast on your next getaway. Whether you’re looking for a cozy, romantic getaway, a quaint historical charmer, or a luxurious weekend away, West Michigan has a Bed & Breakfast for you.
Bed & Breakfasts in South West Michigan
Courtesy Yelton Manor Bed & Breakfast
In Marshall, the National House Inn, built over 170 years ago, is the oldest operating inn in Michigan. It originally welcomed stagecoach travelers and offers the same gracious hospitality with luxuries and conveniences of today.
Luxurious and lakeside,Yelton Manor Boutique Hotel B&B is the closest B&B in South Haven to the beach. It’s walkable to everything, blissfully tucked away from the noisy harbor, festivals, and nightspots.
Greater Lansing is home to a number of wonderful Bed & Breakfasts. In trendy Old Town Lansing find the Cozy Koi Bed & Breakfast, while in downtown East Lansing, the charming Wild Goose Inn sits just a block away from Michigan State University campus. For a retreat in style, choose The English Inn for quaint-yet-modern cottages and deliciously elegant rooms in the manor house. For something a bit different, head out to Williamston and commune with some llamas and alpacas at the Willowicke Inn or head to Dimondale to stay in The Legend Inn. The area’s newest B&B is found in the northern neighboring community of St. Johns. The Nordic Pineapple is a charming inn with five rooms with all the amenities, right in the heart of St. Johns.
Visit the Muskegon area and stay at one of the numerous Bed & Breakfasts in the area such as White Swan Inn Bed & Breakfast in Whitehall. Come to White Swan Inn Bed & Breakfast for the hospitality, stay for the incredible location. This charming inn is within walking distance of stores and restaurants, across the street from a historic performing arts center, one block away from the bike trail, just up the hill from White Lake, and a short drive to the fantastic sunsets at Lake Michigan.
The Lamplighter Bed & Breakfast, situated along Ludington Avenue in Ludington, is just five blocks from shopping, antiquing, restaurants, breweries, ice cream, and entertainment. Each of the five rooms and suites offer private baths and a comfortable night’s sleep. Enjoy Michigan’s spring and summer seasons and wander outside to enjoy the beautiful gardens and outdoor spaces. You’ll also find many other charming bed & breakfasts and other accommodations in Ludington for your next stay.
Mecosta County has a plethora of bed & breakfasts (and more) for visitors to enjoy. Whether you’re interested in cabins, cottages, or bed & breakfasts, Mecosta County has a place for you to rest your head.
Feel at home on vacation on one of Isabella County’s bed and breakfasts: Enjoy convenient access to Downtown Mt. Pleasant, home to museums, restaurants, boutiques, and more. Or take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and relax in a country-side cottage. Whichever you prefer, the unique area bed & breakfast accommodations have what you seek. Learn more about Isabella County’s unique bed & breakfast options at the Mt. Pleastant Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Enjoy a relaxing weekend on the Leelanau Peninsula. Visit the Inn at Black Star Farms for a weekend of luxury, featuring a farm-fresh breakfast each morning of your stay. What are you waiting for? Book your next up north getaway!
More North Region and Upper Peninsula Bed & Breakfasts:
Many gardeners are calling the Michigan State University ExtensionLawn and Garden Hotline and uploading photos to our Ask an Expert resource wanting to know if what they’re trying to identify is a weed. A weed is a subjective human classification usually indicating a plant out of place, but identifying a plant you see as a problem is a great first step in finding the right solution for your yard or garden.
For help in identifying weeds, check out the MSU Weed Diagnostic resource for proper weed identification and management tactics, contact the Lawn and Garden Hotline at 888-678-3464 or upload your photos at Ask an Expert. Once you have properly identified what plant it is, then you can more efficiently decide on the best plan of attack. Read on to discover ways to outsmart these unwanted plants.
When do weeds flower?
It is always encouraging to hear a gardener’s “ah ha” moment when realizing weeds have specific life cycles, i.e., they mature or set seed at different times throughout the year. Some are summer annuals, winter annuals, biennials or perennials—review the “Spring blooming lawn and garden weeds” article from MSU Extension to understand this better. Determining a weed’s life cycle will help you manage them better and possibly prevent future occurrences. For example, if you can eliminate the weed prior to seed production or before seed dispersal, then you have made a great effort toward elimination.
Throughout the growing season, take notice of unwanted plants in your garden or yard and remove them immediately. After all, an amazing adaptation of weeds is that they produce many seeds. For example, one common mullein plant can produce at least 200,000 seeds, and one purslane plant can produce two million seeds! No wonder it may seem like you can never get rid of them. Many seeds can live for years within the soil in what is called the seed bank, so it is not only the current year but also past year’s practice that plays a role in how many weed seeds are present. For more reading, MSU research explains “Weed Seedbank Dynamics.”
Weeds have multiple survival tactics
Once you have properly identified the weed, search out its different survival tactics. For example, not only will weeds produce many seeds, but they will also have different ways in which the seed may be carried or transported away from the original mother plant, resulting in less competition among seedlings, thus better survival rates.
Reproduction may also occur vegetatively for some, which means if you leave a portion of a root or rhizome or stolon (i.e., below and aboveground creeping stems, respectively) in contact with the ground, this part will continue to live and regrow. Dandelion, Canada thistle and creeping bentgrass, respectively, are examples with these survival tactics.
Do not dispose these vegetative parts in your compost pile, as they can resprout and be reintroduced back into your garden. Also, try to avoid placing any weed seeds back into your compost. Unless you are actively managing your pile at temperatures of greater than 140 degrees, they may survive and be reintroduced back into your garden.
Weeds have useful properties, too
Weeds can be frustrating, but by better understanding their specific life cycles and adaptations, you are better armed to defend your garden and landscape against them. Be mindful that many of what we term “weeds” were actually brought here because they had useful properties that served human civilization over time, such as food sources, nutrients and medicinal properties.
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
On July 1st, 2019, south-side stray savior, Sandi D. came across this friendly fella hanging around one of her feral colonies on Putnam SW. She didn’t have room to take him in but couldn’t let her chance slip away, so she plopped him in to a travel carrier and took him back to her crowded but cozy home. He proceeded to vomit all morning, so she brought him to see Dr. Jen’s colleague for an anti-nausea injection and oral meds for very soft, stinky stool.
A few days later she took him in to C-SNIP for his neutering, where they discovered an old tail injury that caused his appendage to have a permanent bump distally, close to the tip. When Dr. Jen finally saw him on the 8th for his official work-up, he tested positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus); no big surprise, considering he was intact for the first 3 years of his life (born in the summer of 2016).
Other than minor stud tail and moderate gingivitis, he appeared quite healthy overall, but over the course of the next several weeks at our sanctuary, he developed a painful, bilateral case of conjunctivitis that wasn’t responding to a slew of different topical medications. After examining him again a month after his arrival, it was clear he needed steroids systemically in hopes of counteracting the inflammation that was causing him significant pain. More than likely it is viral in nature, too; it’s not caused by FIV but feline herpes, which is ubiquitous in stray cat populations, most often stemming from infection during kittenhood.
Moving forward, he may need some sort of long-term medication—either topically, orally or by injection—to manage this condition, but he takes his meds like a champ, so there shouldn’t be an issue on the receiving end.
A few weeks into his stay with us at Big Sid’s, our cat care manager noted the following:
“Podrick has really settled well despite his eye problems, intermittent fevers and just feeling terrible. He’s learning that human affection isn’t so bad after all, after being quite tense both at the clinic and upon arrival. He lets out the occasional grumble or hiss when being picked up but will come looking for human attention on his own. He prefers to be tucked away, sleeping in a cubby to being out in the open, but I blame that on just not feeling well lately. He’s an adorable guy, who I feel in time will become playful and start hanging out with the other cats. He would do best in a home with older kids that can provide him with lots of attention and playtime, while also being respectful to his space. I certainly wouldn’t call him aggressive but he does have his reservations on being held. Dogs are a possibility as he’s not real timid.”
As we expected, his (and our) primary concern was to get him feeling better, and as he did so, he became more comfortable in his surroundings—maybe TOO comfy.
Since Pod isn’t a biter, there is minimal risk of transmitting FIV to another kitty, unless tempers flare and fighting ensues. He is so handsome, especially now that he can see all that is going on around him clearly AND understands that indoor life has benefits he wasn’t previously aware of. His life has been rough thus far, and now that he has turned a corner and is fitting in beautifully, we are going to do our darndest to find him the type of home he may have only dreamed was possible.
More about Podrick:
Domestic Short Hair
Tabby (Tiger Striped)
Adult
Male
Large
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
Good in a home with other cats
Want to adopt Podrick? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Kids playing on the bacon and eggs play area once at Woodland Mall. (Woodland Mall)
By Woodland Mall
Woodland Mall is giving the community a chance to bring home the bacon – and eggs, two central pieces of its iconic play area that were retired earlier this year.
As part of its $90 million redevelopment, Woodland Mall unveiled a new friendly monster-themed play area last month. The destination shopping center retired its whimsical breakfast-themed play area in the spring to make way for new development.
The mall has donated the rest of the play area fixtures and is now inviting the community to bid on the two remaining pieces. The online bidding ends on Sunday, Sept. 15 and all proceeds will be donated to charity.
“For more than 20 years, the bacon and eggs play area held a special place in the heart of many Grand Rapids families,” said Cecily McCabe, marketing director. “Woodland Mall hopes to see these fun play features find a new home where children will continue to enjoy them for decades to come.”
Those interested can bid on the pieces here — the bacon is 5 feet long and 2.5 feet wide and the sunny-side up eggs are 10 feet long and 5 feet wide.
Woodland Mall will donate all proceeds from the sale to Kids’ Food Basket. Kids’ Food Basket provides a community solution to childhood hunger serving more than 8,200 kids each weekday in West Michigan. The program works to break the cycle of poverty and build a stronger community.
The original play area featured over-sized breakfast food including a waffle, sausage links, banana and cereal bowl which were donated to Berkley Hills Community Church of Grand Rapids.
“We would like to express our utmost gratitude to Woodland Mall for this act of generosity,” said Berkley Hills Church Pastor Kyle Brown. “We are excited to see how we will use this play equipment to bless the Grand Rapids community.”
The pieces are currently in storage while a special space is dedicated for their use within the church.
“While we will miss our beloved bacon and eggs, we’re delighted to support an organization like Kids’ Food Basket that helps provide good nutrition to keep kids healthy.” McCabe said. “Woodland Mall is a family-friendly destination, so we are thrilled knowing our food themed play elements will help hungry children in West Michigan.”
Bidding ends on Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. and the highest bidder will receive more information regarding pick-up time and location.
Help Woodland Mall #BringHomeTheBacon to another family-friendly location.
As part of its commitment to medical innovation, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health is offering two new groundbreaking treatments for sleep apnea, a potentially dangerous interruption of breathing that affects the health and wellbeing of more than 18 million Americans.
One of the treatments is a first in the state of Michigan: a breakthrough procedure for central sleep apnea (CSA), a disorder where the brain fails to signal breathing muscles during sleep.
The Respicardia remedē® System is designed to restore that signal. An implantable therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the remedē System monitors and stabilizes the breathing pattern throughout the night. It works by stimulating a nerve that controls the diaphragm, just as the brain does.
“This is an exciting development,” said Dr. Matthew Sevensma, who performed the state’s first remedē procedure on Aug. 1 at Metro Health. “As a cardiologist, I’ve seen the connectionbetween heart disease and sleep apnea. This is an innovative way to address risk factors, reduce daytime drowsiness and improve overall quality of life.”
Following a referral by Metro Health pulmonologist Dr. Timothy Daum, Sevensma implanted the device during a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. The device is activated 30 days later. In a clinical study, 91 percent of CSA patients saw a reduction in the number of sleep apnea events.
The National Institutes of Health notes untreated sleep apnea can contribute to serious conditions, such as heart attack, glaucoma, diabetes, cancer and cognitive and behavioral disorders.
Patients who suspect they have sleep apnea should talk to their doctors. Common symptoms include snoring, gasping during sleep, frequent waking, excessive daytime sleepiness, decreased attention, dry mouth or headaches when waking.
The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – different from CSA because it occurs when the airway collapses during sleep. This disorder often is treated by use of the mask-and-hose system commonly called CPAP – an acronym for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure.
Metro Health also offers the Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation. (Supplied)
As an alternative for patients unable or unwilling to use the CPAP devices, Metro Health now offers Inspire® Upper Airway Stimulation.
“I’m thrilled that we are able to offer therapies for both obstructive and central sleep apnea that do not involved wearing a mask,” said Daum. “Patients have been asking for these options foryears and we are now able to offer them effective and safe alternatives.”
The Inspire system is an FDA-approved implantable device that uses mild stimulation to keep the airway open. It is inserted under the skin during an outpatient procedure, and patients use a small handheld remote to turn it on before bed.
Metro Health is able to offer this option through its affiliation with Michigan Medicine. Suitable candidates will be referred to ENT-otolaryngologist, Dr. Matthew Spector, for the procedure.
Recently WKTV’s Donna Kidner Smith sat down with Kent County Commissioners Betsy Melton and Monica Sparks to talk about the challenges women face when running for public office.
Of the 19-member Kent County Board of Commissioners, six positions are held by women. The commission oversees services for about 660,000 people living in the county with a budget of around $444 million dollars.
Both the seats that Melton and Sparks currently have previously were held by men both of whom had served on the Board of Commissioners for a number of years. Harold Mast served in District 12 until 2018 when Sparks was elected to the seat. District 12 covers the western portion of the City of Kentwood and the eastern portion of the City of Wyoming. Dick VanderMolen served District 13 up until 2016 when Melton was elected to the seat. The 13th District covers the eastern portion of the City of Kentwood.
“I don’t think people really looked at it was a man and now it is a women,” Melton said. “I think it was who has more experience in Kentwood and, actually my opponent was a woman equally as qualified. It is how you bring your passion for where you are representing to the city is what I think people look at.”
Sparks said before running for any seat know the issues that impact that specific board or governmental unit.
“In this political climate, we want to fight for this or that and many of those things don’t affect us [on the Board of Commissioners),” Sparks said, adding that the main focus for the Kent County Board of Commissioners is to make sure it provides continued services for the county’s residents.
“So run on the platform of your passion but it has to meet with the job so you are not out here speaking about things that don’t really have anything to do with the position,” Sparks said.
Both Melton and Sparks will be up for re-election in 2020.
